Integrating Physical Activity and Artificial Intelligence in Burn Rehabilitation: Muscle Recovery and Body Image Restoration
Burn injuries result in complex physiological and psychological sequelae, including hypermetabolism, muscle wasting, mobility impairment, scarring, and disrupted body image. While advances in acute care have improved survival, comprehensive rehabilitation strategies are critical for restoring functi...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8323 |
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| author | Vasiliki J. Malliou George Pafis Christos Katsikas Spyridon Plakias |
| author_facet | Vasiliki J. Malliou George Pafis Christos Katsikas Spyridon Plakias |
| author_sort | Vasiliki J. Malliou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Burn injuries result in complex physiological and psychological sequelae, including hypermetabolism, muscle wasting, mobility impairment, scarring, and disrupted body image. While advances in acute care have improved survival, comprehensive rehabilitation strategies are critical for restoring function, appearance, and psychosocial well-being. Structured physical activity, including resistance and aerobic training, plays a central role in counteracting muscle atrophy, improving cardiovascular function, enhancing scar quality, and promoting psychological resilience and body image restoration. This narrative review synthesizes the current evidence on the effects of exercise-based interventions on post-burn recovery, highlighting their therapeutic mechanisms, clinical applications, and implementation challenges. In addition to physical training, emerging technologies such as virtual reality, aquatic therapy, and compression garments offer promising adjunctive benefits. Notably, artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining traction in burn rehabilitation through its integration into wearable biosensors and telehealth platforms that enable real-time monitoring, individualized feedback, and predictive modeling of recovery outcomes. These AI-driven tools have the potential to personalize exercise regimens, support remote care, and enhance scar assessment and wound tracking. Overall, the integration of exercise-based interventions with digital technologies represents a promising, multimodal approach to burn recovery. Future research should focus on optimizing exercise prescriptions, improving access to personalized rehabilitation tools, and advancing AI-enabled systems to support long-term recovery, functional independence, and positive self-perception among burn survivors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-893b7f2b0719443ea396d1b94d8b65ea |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-893b7f2b0719443ea396d1b94d8b65ea2025-08-20T03:02:55ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011515832310.3390/app15158323Integrating Physical Activity and Artificial Intelligence in Burn Rehabilitation: Muscle Recovery and Body Image RestorationVasiliki J. Malliou0George Pafis1Christos Katsikas2Spyridon Plakias3Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, School of Physical Education, Sports Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Physical Education and Sports Science, School of Physical Education, Sports and Occupational Therapy Science, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, GreeceDepartment of Physical Education and Sports Science, School of Physical Education, Sports Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, GreeceBurn injuries result in complex physiological and psychological sequelae, including hypermetabolism, muscle wasting, mobility impairment, scarring, and disrupted body image. While advances in acute care have improved survival, comprehensive rehabilitation strategies are critical for restoring function, appearance, and psychosocial well-being. Structured physical activity, including resistance and aerobic training, plays a central role in counteracting muscle atrophy, improving cardiovascular function, enhancing scar quality, and promoting psychological resilience and body image restoration. This narrative review synthesizes the current evidence on the effects of exercise-based interventions on post-burn recovery, highlighting their therapeutic mechanisms, clinical applications, and implementation challenges. In addition to physical training, emerging technologies such as virtual reality, aquatic therapy, and compression garments offer promising adjunctive benefits. Notably, artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining traction in burn rehabilitation through its integration into wearable biosensors and telehealth platforms that enable real-time monitoring, individualized feedback, and predictive modeling of recovery outcomes. These AI-driven tools have the potential to personalize exercise regimens, support remote care, and enhance scar assessment and wound tracking. Overall, the integration of exercise-based interventions with digital technologies represents a promising, multimodal approach to burn recovery. Future research should focus on optimizing exercise prescriptions, improving access to personalized rehabilitation tools, and advancing AI-enabled systems to support long-term recovery, functional independence, and positive self-perception among burn survivors.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8323exerciserehabilitationpsychological outcomeswearable sensorsscar management |
| spellingShingle | Vasiliki J. Malliou George Pafis Christos Katsikas Spyridon Plakias Integrating Physical Activity and Artificial Intelligence in Burn Rehabilitation: Muscle Recovery and Body Image Restoration Applied Sciences exercise rehabilitation psychological outcomes wearable sensors scar management |
| title | Integrating Physical Activity and Artificial Intelligence in Burn Rehabilitation: Muscle Recovery and Body Image Restoration |
| title_full | Integrating Physical Activity and Artificial Intelligence in Burn Rehabilitation: Muscle Recovery and Body Image Restoration |
| title_fullStr | Integrating Physical Activity and Artificial Intelligence in Burn Rehabilitation: Muscle Recovery and Body Image Restoration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating Physical Activity and Artificial Intelligence in Burn Rehabilitation: Muscle Recovery and Body Image Restoration |
| title_short | Integrating Physical Activity and Artificial Intelligence in Burn Rehabilitation: Muscle Recovery and Body Image Restoration |
| title_sort | integrating physical activity and artificial intelligence in burn rehabilitation muscle recovery and body image restoration |
| topic | exercise rehabilitation psychological outcomes wearable sensors scar management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8323 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vasilikijmalliou integratingphysicalactivityandartificialintelligenceinburnrehabilitationmusclerecoveryandbodyimagerestoration AT georgepafis integratingphysicalactivityandartificialintelligenceinburnrehabilitationmusclerecoveryandbodyimagerestoration AT christoskatsikas integratingphysicalactivityandartificialintelligenceinburnrehabilitationmusclerecoveryandbodyimagerestoration AT spyridonplakias integratingphysicalactivityandartificialintelligenceinburnrehabilitationmusclerecoveryandbodyimagerestoration |